District Administration - September 2011 - (Page 62)

District-Charter Collaborations on the Rise Historic tensions are softening, allowing cooperation to take root, so long as funding doesn’t become a distraction. By Ed FinkEl S ynErgy ChartEr aCadEmy, whiCh is one of three charter schools in the los angeles Unified School district operated by the husband-wife team of meg and randy Palisoc, spent its first six years (2004-2010) in a cramped church space in south la. Equipment and supplies had to be packed up on a daily basis because the church needed to use the same space. The Pali- achievement gap, and its main goal is for socs, both former laUSd students to meet or exceed the California teachers, opened the school there because content standards and be prepared to take they could not find another space in the college-preparatory classes in secondary heavily industrial community without school so that they can eventually attend incurring millions of dollars in environ- the four-year university of their choice. meanwhile, when the district mental remediation costs. announced in 2009 that it would open despite those facilities challenges, Synergy’s more than 300 k5 students have up a new school, the Quincy Jones Elegenerally scored in the top 10 percent on mentary School, a block away in 2010, statewide tests in reading and math over Synergy saw the opportunity for synergy. the past seven years, in contrast with other Palisoc went to laUSd administrators laUSd schools where achievement scores and board members to see if her program were significantly lower, generally in the could share space at the new school, share bottom 30 percent, meg Palisoc says. Syn- best practices with its teachers and adminergy’s mission is focused on eliminating the istrators, and strengthen both schools on the same campus. Thanks partly to letters sent by and meetings held with Synergy’s co-founders and other staff, laUSd administrators knew about Synergy’s test score successes, and laUSd board members had visited the church space to observe Synergy’s program in action and to see the challenges it faced in its cramped space. The administrators and board members agreed to the arrangement. The arrangement required final approval from the superintendent of the local district, one of eight within laUSd, as well as from the full laUSd board. and Synergy now shares expenses, such as maintenance and operations, school District Administration 62 September 2011

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of District Administration - September 2011

District Administration - September 2011
Contents
From the Editor
Letters
News Update
Tech Update
District Profile
Administrator Profile
Conversations
They Work Hard for the Money
The Road to Rigor
District-Charter Collaborations on the Rise
Designing Safe Facilities
Tony Smith Tackles Oakland
Product Focus
New Products
Research Center
Crisis Response
Going Mobile
Professional Opinion
Student Counsel

District Administration - September 2011